Rather perch in a wild wood
Rather drink from a mountain stream
Than consume fine rice and meat
And struggle for audience of the great
How crude this vulgar frugality
But I shall dress coarsely till my head is white
Intelligence may not be my forte
But I may claim to be humane
They say that Your Excellency
Makes no distinction of friend and foe
That you do not sell offices
That all your activities are for all the people
Your humble servant thus petitions you:
Could he find a place in your ministry
With gratitude for choice on public ground
Without desire for private preference.